CELEBRACADABRA

[Jim Maloney_dup1]

Tim Ellis has done some good research on this, and has discovered who some of the celebrities will be:

Carnie Wilson (daughter of Brian Wilson and member of the 90's group Wilson Phillips)
Hal Sparks (comedian/actor)
Chris Reid (Kid, of Kid N Play)
Kim Wyatt (*****cat Dolls)

I wonder who the other three are.

-Jim

[Richard Kaufman]

Sorry for the asterisks, but during our recent conversion process I've turned on the language filter and P*ssy is one of the words in the filter.

[Brad Henderson]

Can we still say ****?

[Brad Henderson]

apparently not

[Richard Kaufman]

You can't "say" anything, but you can write "[censored]" if you want.

[Master Payne]

Originally posted by Jim Maloney:
Tim Ellis has done some good research on this, and has discovered who some of the celebrities will be:

Carnie Wilson (daughter of Brian Wilson and member of the 90's group Wilson Phillips)
Hal Sparks (comedian/actor)
Chris Reid (Kid, of Kid N Play)
Kim Wyatt (*****cat Dolls)

I wonder who the other three are.

-Jim

Aren't Celebrities supposed to be people you've actually heard of?

Or am I just getting old?

But then I've never heard of most the "Stars" they have had on Dancing with the Stars either

[Master Payne]

Originally posted by David Alexander:
As trained actors they have a huge advantage over "regular" magicians, however I'm always bothered by non-magicians appearing to do magic.

Perhaps though it might encourage more magicians to take acting lessons

[Master Payne]

Originally posted by jerry lazar:
VHI has greenlighted Celebracadabra, in which seven TV and film stars vie for the title of Best Celebrity Magician."

I'd be much more interested in seeing a show that teams up TV and Film Stars with seven lucky magicians then teaches them how to become Celebrities.

[Richard Kaufman]

Master Payne, YES, you're getting old. And, it must be admitted, that the definition of celebrity is not what it used to be.

We have a big story on Phenonemon (covering the entire series) by Brad Henderson in our upcoming March issue, where he makes some remarks regarding the celebrities used in the show. I won't spoil your fun, but one of his cracks had me laughing for a day.

[Brad Henderson]

You were laughing at my crack?!?...just like that awful day in middle school gym class all over again.

[Richard Kaufman]

You must be on crack, because it wasn't that crack.

[Master Payne]

Originally posted by Richard Kaufman:
You must be on crack, because it wasn't that crack.

It's great to see that the level of conversation on the Genii Forum hasn't declined at all since its gone subscription only :)

[Richard Kaufman]

You can blame the articulate Mr. Henderson for that!

[Brad Henderson]

Richard started it....Mom, Richard started it.

Thank you...I'm here all week.

[Mark Paulson]

All the contestants for VH1's Celebracadabra were announced the other day. They are singers Kimberly Wyatt, Carnie Wilson, and Chris Kid Reed; actors C. Thomas Howell and Lisa Ann Walter; and comedians Hal Sparks and Ant. I've only heard of three of them, but the coaches and judges will definitely be entertaining.

The show is scheduled to air on April 20th with 9 episodes.

[Richard Kaufman]

We have an article, the first of three, by David Regal in our April issue, already in the mail.

[Todd Karr]

Hey, folks.
Hopefully this post won't violate my confidentiality agreement with VH1.
After David Regal moved from advisor to coach on Celebracadabra, I was hired as magic consultant. We had a blast despite hard work and many egos, as you'll see in the show.
No fears about celebrities looking like instant magicians a la "Circus of the Stars." The celebs are sometimes shown doing imperfect or uninspired performances, which is how one got eliminated each round. From what was filmed - and I hope this comes out in the final show - the producers showed magic as a craft and artform that brings results only through long hours, creativity, and proper rehearsal.
What was astounding was the learning curve we observed as magicians on the show. The celebrities often took a while to grasp how to perform magic, but once they did, we saw some amazing routines with levels of acting and comedy that are essential skills of trained actors and which most self-educated magicians can only hope to achieve.

[Richard Kaufman]

If you have violated your confidentiality agreement, it's too late now! :)

[Todd Karr]

Well, if I did, I'll be asked to remove it, so if the post disappears, you'll know why!

[magicp]

I just saw this new clip from the show... Carnie Wilson is pretty bad...

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 65452.html

[Richard Kaufman]

We've all produced selected cards and "missed." Every damn one of us, no matter how experienced. So, pissing on someone who's inexperienced (and attempting something very difficult) is poor form. She had the misfortune to make her mistake on national TV. Most of us have only made idiots of ourselves in front of a few laymen.
So don't pile on!

[Jonathan Townsend]

How about a card in your wallet that says "not even close" on the back just in case?

[JimChristianson]

Carnie: "Well, f$%k me!" An instant classic!
Right behind, "SHUFFLE those bastards!"

These folks deserve all kinds of kudos for even attempting the stuff they're doing. And with only one day's rehearsal? Brava, Carnie!

[flynn]

My miss was wrong card through hanky at a quinceneria party. My out was pretending to look for it culled it and replace the wrong card back on top of the deck and erdnased it. It was dark, loud and for a table of family of like four or five people so it wasnt too traumatic.

[Magic Newswire]

Had a great conversation with Max Maven this afternoon. I'll not be able to post it until the am though. Stand by!

[CHRIS]

I am just disappointed that there are a list magicians with z list celebrities. Mcbride, Maven, Levit, Regal, and Rocco these are a top notch guys and to give them people like this. I think the worst thing is people like ant are actually going to believe they are a celebrity now. This show should have got other celebrities off vhi. I for one would have loved to see Rocco team up with flavor flav.

[Ryan Matney]

Simon Lovell had Carnie Wilson attempting something I would have thought was too advanced.

[Tom Frame]

So, what did everyone think of episode #2?

Keeping in mind that the celebrities only had one day to prepare, the level of the performances ranged from adequate to deplorable.

It was good to see C. Thomas Howell redeem himself.

I was disappointed that none of the judges throttled Chris Reid for saying "hell" and "damn" during his performance for those young kids.

Ant's performance was unconscionable, and served as a potent object lesson in rampart narcissism run amok. His remarks to Max were perfunctorily caustic. Max's responses were beautiful.

Your thoughts?

[JustinRYoung]

I am pleasantly surprised with the show. Very much dug the first episode and thought the second premise was an excellent way to take the "plot" forward. It bottles the best part of the show... people using their personalities to cement over the understandable cracks in their basic sleight of hand.

I have Kim Wyatt going deep in my office pool... how about you guys?

Also, in Kid's defense he did say "daaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeemn" :)

[Richard Kaufman]

The show gets better with each episode. Now that Ant is gone, things get more interesting.

[MaxNY]

I liked the twists. The best celeb from Ep.#1 got to throw a curve at the 2nd to last celeb from EP#1, during Ep.#2...They got to choose a costume from a "magic shop" that would challenge the celeb.. Well the costume was a Catsup bottle, and David K, did one heck of a job developing magic to go along with it....But then there was Rocco...with his Butterfly piece. NG!

[David Regal]

As most of you know, Genii is publishing a three-part behind the scenes look at the show, written by me. Part One was in the April issue, but if you missed it don't worry - it covered the pre-production of the show up until the moment a terrible freak happening moved me from "magic consultant" to "coach." Part Two will be in the June issue.

[Richard Kaufman]

And part three will be our July cover story ... but for now, wait until you read the second part in the June issue. I heard my wife screaming with laughter while reading it.

[Jeff Haas]

The second episode is up on VH1's site now.

I didn't know much about Asi before this, but after watching it, I really like him.

[Paul Q]

Because of the number of contestants, episode #2 didn't give much air time to Max or McBride. Hopefully in the future installments we'll get some good stuff from them.

When Max speaks, I can't turn away!

[Magic Newswire]

Our interview with ASI after Episode 2 is now on the site. Also, we've posted some links to video not before broadcast on the show. After listening to our chat with him and watching Ant & Asi's final comments.. you'll get an even better idea of why Ant is gone.

Enjoy!

[Magic Newswire]

... If this is the one with Max Maven and Jeff McBride involved with the judging, then it may not yet prove to be one of the signs of the impending apocalypse.

Jeremy

Jeff & Max made it clear that they were very cautious going into this project during our interviews with the, yet both seem very pleased with the outcome...

I know that I was totally encouraged by the fact that they were involved as I knew that they would be focused on insuring that 1) There would be no exposure.. and 2) It wouldn't make magic look creepy or easy.

[MagicBilly]

Newbie here to Genii forums, but do have a few years under my magic belt, so I thought I'd step into a gentle thread for post #1.

I've watched the 1st two episodes, read and listened to most everything posted on magic newswire and have discussed this with other magic friends. That said...

I hope in later episodes that the producers increased the interaction and judge feeback for all performers, not just those in the bottom three, from Jeff, Max and Jonathan. There is some "reality show" tension missing with only Jonathan dropping the proverbial axe.

I must say though while Ant's attitude, desire/ability to create group tension, and of course his clown anxiety will be missed, I loved Max's response to Ant just before he was voted off the island.

Now that this first post is over, I'm ready to swim with the sharks...NOT.

[Rene Clement]

With all the magic consultants on the show, how do they allow the opening credits to show "Kid" Chris Ried holding a rabbit by it's ears?
Ouch!!!

[David Regal]

...how do they allow the opening credits to show "Kid" Chris Ried holding a rabbit by it's ears?

That wasn't a rabbit. That was ANT.